1. BATRACHUS. 167 



2, by a large epi tympanic bone (os temporale). 



3, by a great number of caudal vertebrae, aU the single vertebrae 

 being short, stout, firmly joined to one another. 



4, by the ribs of the first vertebra, which are strong, elongate, 

 and joined to the upper extremity of the humerus. 



5, by a very short radius and ulna, and elongated carpal bones. 



Batrachus tau with 12 -f- 22 vertebraj. 



trispinosus with 



didactyltis with 



surinamensis with 



Porichthys porosi^simus with . 



12 + 17 

 12 + 17 

 12 + 27 

 11 + 31 



* Species without, scales. 



1. Batrachus tau. 



Gadus tau, L. Syst. i. p. 440. 



Lophius bufo, Mitch. Lit. Sf Phil. Trans. New York, i. p. 463. 

 Batrachoides vemuUas, Lesueur, Mem. Mm. v. p. 157. pi. 17. 

 Batrachus variegatus, Storer, Pep. Massach. p. 74. 



tau, Cuv. ^ Val. xii. p. 478 j Dekay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 



p. 168. pi. 28. fig. 86. 

 celatus, Dekay, I. c. p. 170. pi. 50, fig. 161 (^young). 



D. 3 I 26-28. A. 21-22. V. 1/2. Vert. 12/22. 



The length of the head is contained three times and a half in the 

 total ; the width of the bony bridge between the orbits is more thar 

 that of the orbit. Snout broad, flat, depressed, about twice as long 

 as the eye. GUI-covers with three spines directed backwards, two 

 belonging to the operculum and one to the subopcrctilum. Vomer 

 and palatine bones with a single series of obtusely conical teeth • 

 similar teeth in the lower jaw, in two series anteriorly and in a single 

 one laterally. Snout surrounded by a wreath of fleshy tentacles ; 

 those above the orbit weU developed. The maxillary extends to 

 behind the vertical from the posterior margin of the eye. A round 

 foramen in the middle of the axil, or somewhat above it. 



Atlantic coasts of North and Central America. 



a. Northern variety. 



Brown, coarsely marbled with darker ; dorsal with nine, anal with 

 five oblique dark-brown bands, caudal with four cross-bands ; pec- 

 toral rather irregularly brown-spotted. 



a. Adult. New York. Purchased of Mr. Brandt. 



h, c-d. Adult and half-grown. North America. 



e. Adult skeleton : female. New York. Purchased of Mr. Brandt. 



/. Preparation of the internal parts of specimen e. 



/3. Southern variety. 



Brown, marbled with darker and dotted with whitish ; dorsal and 

 anal fins each with about nine narrow obUque brown bands, more 



